Advancing Access to Remedy and Corporate Accountability in Zambia’s Extractive Sector

Background 

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Zambia's economy is deeply anchored in its extractive sector, with mining and critical minerals serving as primary drivers of foreign exchange, employment, and infrastructural development. However, this economic contribution has often come at a significant cost. Communities surrounding mining operations frequently grapple with severe environmental degradation, pollution, displacement, and a lack of meaningful consultation in projects that affect their lives and livelihoods. Consequently, victims of corporate human rights abuses face immense challenges in obtaining justice and effective remedy.

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The right to an effective remedy is a cornerstone of international human rights law and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). In Zambia, the realization of this right is hindered by a combination of factors, including weak enforcement of regulations, limited community awareness of rights, a power imbalance between corporations and citizens, and significant deficiencies in both judicial and non-judicial grievance mechanisms.

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Despite increased awareness and efforts to promote responsible business conduct, victims of business-related human rights violations in Zambia often face significant barriers in seeking justice. These challenges include limited legal awareness, legal and procedural complexities, lack of accessible dispute resolution mechanisms, limited accountability mechanisms within businesses, and socio-economic barriers. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of the existing gaps and the development of strategies to strengthen remedy mechanisms. Additionally, the challenges of accessing remedies are compounded for women, children, and persons with disabilities, who face structural, social, and cultural barriers. Any meaningful reform must therefore be grounded in the intersectional realities of these groups.

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This panel discussion convenes key stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, and other key partners to critically examine these challenges. The dialogue will focus on evaluating existing frameworks, identifying systemic barriers to justice, and exploring innovative, multi-stakeholder strategies to enhance corporate accountability and ensure that the extractive sector operates in a manner that respects human rights and environmental standards.

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Key Objectives

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This session aims to achieve the following key objectives:

• Highlight the key challenges faced by victims in accessing effective remedy for business related human rights violations in Zambia.

• Highlight key positive strides and opportunities made available for access to effective remedy for business- related human rights violations.

• Create a platform for diverse stakeholders to share experiences, lessons learned, and innovative models for promoting corporate accountability from local, regional, and international contexts.

• Strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue to build consensus and promote collaborative solutions that balance economic imperatives with the imperative of human rights protection.

• Explore the role of community-based and non-judicial mechanisms including traditional dispute resolution and civil society led mediation in providing culturally appropriate, accessible remedies, particularly in areas where formal institutions are inaccessible or ineffective.

 

Expected Outcomes

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• A shared understanding of the complex challenges and potential solutions for improving access to remedy in Zambia.

• A clear set of prioritized, stakeholder-informed recommendations for strengthening legal, policy, and operational mechanisms.

• A strengthened foundation for continued multi-stakeholder collaboration and dialogue beyond the session.

• A concise list of agreed-upon priorities to guide future advocacy and policy reform efforts.